Recruiting

Strain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain

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What is being tested

Strain-Counterstrain treatment of piriformis muscle

Other
Who is being recruted

Back Pain+12

+ Nerve Compression Syndromes

+ Nervous System Diseases

From 18 to 65 Years
+12 Eligibility Criteria
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Placebo-Controlled
Interventional
Study Start: December 2025
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorLoma Linda University
Study ContactRoya Vahdatinia, DOMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: December 1, 2025

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

There are two arms to the study: treatment and sham. The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle. The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle. There will be two treatments, 1-2 weeks apart ideally. Participants will fill out the Oswestry Disability Index Questionnaire before the first treatment and after the second treatment (which is 1-2 weeks after the first treatment). Participants will also identify pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after each treatment. Participants will identify pain at rest prior to treatment using VAS. Participant will then identify pain at the start of treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5kg/cm2) and post treatment while pressure is applied to the piriformis muscle (4.5 kg/cm2). An algometer will be used pre and post each treatment (2 treatments that are 1-2 weeks apart) to objectively measure any change in pain pressure threshold.

Official TitleStrain-Counterstrain Treatment of Piriformis Pain
NCT05023005
Principal SponsorLoma Linda University
Study ContactRoya Vahdatinia, DOMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

30 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 65 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Back PainNerve Compression SyndromesNervous System DiseasesNeuralgiaNeurologic ManifestationsNeuromuscular DiseasesPainPeripheral Nervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsLow Back PainPelvic PainMononeuropathiesSciatic NeuropathyPiriformis Muscle Syndrome

Criteria

2 inclusion criteria required to participate
18 to 65 years of age
Tender point (or trigger point) in piriformis muscle determined by physical exam
10 exclusion criteria prevent from participating
Less than 45 degrees of active hip flexion, less than 5 degrees of active hip internal rotation or less than 30 degrees of active hip external rotation, on side of affected piriformis
Unable to lay prone
Non-English speaker
Inability to attend 2 sessions within the same month
Show More Criteria

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

50% chance of being blinded to the placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Sham
The sham group will receive strain-counterstrain treatment for the hamstring muscle.

Group II

Experimental
The treatment group will receive strain-counterstrain for the piriformis muscle.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

Loma Linda University Health

Loma Linda, United StatesOpen Loma Linda University Health in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center